To all patroling air units. A 208 is in progress in the C-13 district of Newport City

What? The police?

Stop it! Who told you to open fire?! Drop your guns!

I have diplomatic immunity! Let me see who's in charge!

Transporting a listed programmer out of the country violates our arms export treaty. l could also have you charged with kidnapping. Give the man up.

l'm afraid not. He's applied for political asylum with us and he's already signed a statement to that effect!

When!?

I don't have to tell you. By right of international law, my country can offer him protection and right of safe passage. The document is on file at our embassy. l'll transfer a copy to you in a few days.

Are you sure about this? They won't take you back alive.

l must ask that you watch what you say. Our country is a peace-loving democracy.

Is that a fact?

Out the window, shoot!

I don't believe it, thermoptic camoflague.

This is a rare pleasure, Mr. Aramaki.

What can the Foreign Ministry do for Section 9? What are these secret talks you've scheduled with the Gavel Republic for tomorrow?

The usual. Foreign aid. The new government reopened the request after the revolution. They claim to be more democratic but they'll probably be as bad as the last bunch.

Giving them money they don't earn will help nobody. They consider it reparation for past exploitation and won't thank--

And what will the government do?

The problem is that we have the leader of the old junta here looking for political asylum.

Col. Maless, right?

So, do we throw him out and grant them the aid? Or do we publicly recognize him as a refugee and cut the aid? Not an easy decision to make. Personally, if l could find a politically acceptable reason l'd have the man deported in a heartbeat.

Oh yes, thanks for your help with that programmer defection. Nakamura over in Section 6 said he was grateful. After all, we in the diplomatic corps have to keep our hands clean.

Accessed. We've lost response. How's her brainwave output look?

Normal. Switching over the virtual experience mode pattern.

The Foreign Minister's interpreter. 23 minutes ago, her cyber-brain was hacked via telephone connection. Just as Foreign lntelligence division predicted the Puppet Master has begun to break into every terminal on the network. Pattern analysis shows a high probability that he's attempting to disrupt secret talks with Gavel. We've placed everyone attending the talks under surveillance.

Probably trying to hack her ghost so she'll kill people at the meeting.

How long till he hacks through her protection and reaches her ghost?

He's using an old-style HA-3. l'd say about two hours. After that, we'll have to cut the line to eliminate all risk.

Batou and lshikawa are in a car, tracing the signal. Rendezvous with them.

The Puppet Master That phantom hacker, right?

They think he's an American. Age, sex, personal history, everything about him is unknown. Since last winter he's been mainly active in the EC. lnternationally wanted on dozens of charges of stock manipulation, spying, political engineering, terrorism, and violation of cyber-brain privacy. He's ghost-hacked so many people to carry out his crimes he's earned the code name ''The Puppet Master.'' This is the first instance of him operating in this country.

So, if he's so hot, why's he using an old HA-3?

Well, a newer type would be less detectable and be harder to trace. But it could also implicate the former junta leader, Col. Maless.

So he's using an older type to keep us from suspecting him?

Or somebody else wants us to think that.

Maless may just be another pawn in this whole thing.

Now you're overthinking this. There's no evidence of that.

Evidence? l just have a whisper. A whisper from my ghost.
By the way, are you still using that revolver? Afraid both guns in a two-man team'll jam up?

I like my matever.

Since l depend on your backup, l think stopping power is more important than personal preference. Especially since it's my ass on the line. Use the Zastaber instead.

Major, l've been meaning to ask you. Why'd you ask for a guy like me to be transferred in from the police?

Because you're a guy like you.

Huh?

An honest cop with a clean record. And you've got a regular family. With the exception of your cyber-net implants, your brain's real. No matter how powerful we may be fighting-wise a system where all the parts react the same way is a system with a fatal flaw. Like individual, like organization. Overspecialization leads to death. That's all.

Come on!

All right!

We're already 40 seconds behind schedule! -

Gimme five more seconds.

Of all the lousy luck...
Hey, sorry.

My last partner, the one they busted for working without a permit, was a better worker than you!

You're actually trying to ghost-hack your own wife just to see what's on her mind?

She doesn't have any time for me and now she wants a divorce. On top of that, my daughter, my only child thinks l'm cheating on her mother!

So how'd you get your hands on cracking software?

From some programmer. A really nice guy l met in a bar. l told him my wife's lawyer was keeping me from seeing her and he said he'd help. Told me to access from different places to keep from getting caught. Smart guy, huh?

Asshole! Ya tryin' to get yourself killed?!

Looks like we aren't the only busy people out here.

What's the point? Even if we trace the calls the guy's already gone by the time we get there.

Vicious cycle, huh?

Quit complaining. Kusanagi and Togusa are headed for the next expected hack point. You two look for something there.

Look for what?

Anything.

Fuckin' old coot. He tells US to snoop around?!

Wait a sec! Damn, missed him.

Hey, Pops. Did you see a garbage truck go by here?

Who wants to know?

Did you see it or not?
Yeah, but they were gone by the time l got my trash. One was using the phone, so l thought l had time--

Uh, can you take this to them?

A garbage truck? Of course. They move every seven minutes.

Control! Get me the trash collection routes for that sector!

There are eight garbage trucks operating in the target area. Target is a type C collection truck, #79.

Let me drive.

lshikawa, check out the drivers' homes. Batou, you get to their next stop before they do!

He may be in contact with someone else. Observe, but don't move in!

Route data accessed. Hacking points traced and matched. Target now stopped at next point. Confirm access via HA-3.

Sorry, sorry. How about l do the trash and you make the call on the next stop? Okay?

Leave me out of your little crime spree.

Can't believe this load of bullshit.

Do you have kids?

Do I look like I do?

Then you couldn't understand. My daughter's my life.

Take a look. Isn't she just a little angel?

l hate looking at other peoples' family albums.

Yeah, truck 79. Oh, boss. What's up? The cops were checking our routes? You wanna know why? How should l know?!

They spotted the hack! l gotta warn my friend! We're gonna have to skip our next stop!

Target has deviated from route. lncreasing speed to next point.

ls he on to us? Didn't think he could see me.

My accessing the sanitation dept. network may have tipped him off.

Shoulda used a back door.

Too late. Go for the collar.

You can drive now.

Jesus!

He blew a perfectly good armored van to shit.

He hosed us with high-velocity AP rounds! That car door's no cover!

ln a submachinegun? The guy must be nuts.

He's using thermoptic camo, too?!

Keep after him! l'll flank him from above! Togusa, if you're still alive, arrest those two garbage men.

Roger. This job just never lets up, does it?

Police! Everybody down!

All finished?

You all set?

That's what you get when you overload the ammo rating. Frame's bent all to hell. The barrel's shot, too.

Doesn't matter if you arrest me. l'm not gonna talk!

Talk?! And what would l ask a guy who doesn't even know his own name?!

Your mother's face. The place you grew up in. Memories of your childhood. Can you remember any of those things?

There's nothing sadder than a puppet without a ghost. Especially the kind with red blood running through them.

We'll rush the place once the guys in the helicopter are inside. Squad B goes around back, the rest of you take the front. Saito, have your men pull the plugs on all their cars.

Begin recording.

Message from HQ, sir.

We've lD'ed the guy the Major collared.

Go on.

Tsuan Gen Fang. Age: 28 lllegal alien. Weapons violations. Three priors. Was hiding out with a militant refugee group up till a month ago. One week ago, because of his record he was contacted by a military liason in the Gavel embassy to attack the secret talks we would be having with them.

And the real story?

Nickname: Corgi. Occupation: a rather violent scrap dealer. Guess you could call him a thug. We've checked the records the local cops have on him but we can't find any connection with Gavel.

Another puppet from our friend the Puppet Master.

And what about lshikawa?

He's back. He's with Togusa, talking to that poor trash man.

So, what about the Puppet Master on your end? How's he look to you?

Like a puppet himself.

Squad B, in position.

Squads A and C, ready!

Ready to move in, sir.

Move in.

What do you mean, a ''virtual experience?''

l mean your wife, your daughter. the divorce, the affair. They're all fake memories. Like a dream.

Someone was using you to ghost-hack a government official.

No. That's impossible!

l've been to your apartment. one's there. lt's a one-room apartment.

Yeah, l moved there when we split up--

You've been living there for ten years! You have no wife, no child. Your family exists only in your mind. Look. This is the picture you showed to your partner. Who is it of?

But, she was there. My daughter. Smiling like an angel.

What's your daughter's name? Where did you meet your wife, and when? How many years ago did you get married? Who do you see in the picture?

How do l get rid of these fake memories?

l'm sorry. With our current technology There've been two successful deprogrammings but l can't recommend it to you. l'm really sorry.

Virtual experiences, dreams. All data that exists is both reality and fantasy. Whichever it is, the data a person collects in a lifetime is a tiny bit compared to the whole.

A cyborg who goes diving in her spare time. That can't be a good sign. When did you start doing this? Doesn't the ocean scare you? lf the floaters stopped working.

Then l'd probably die. Or would you dive in after me? No one forced you to come out here with me.

l just--

So, what's it feel like when you go diving?

Didn't you go through underwater training?

l'm not talking about doing it in a damned pool.

l feel fear. Anxiety. Loneliness. Darkness. And perhaps, even hope.

Hope? ln the darkness of the sea?

As l float up towards the surface l almost feel as though l could change into something else.

As though you want to quit Section 9?

Batou, how much of your original body do you have left?

Are you drunk?

Convenient, isn't it? With the merest thought, the chemical plants inside our bodies could metabolize all the alcohol in our blood in about ten seconds Allowing us to sit here drinking while on stand-by. lf a technological feat is possible, man will do it. Almost as though it's wired into the core of our being. Metabolic control. Enhanced sensory perception. lmproved reflexes and muscle capacity. Vastly increased data processing speed and capacity. All improvements thanks to our cyber-brains and cyborg bodies. So what if we can't live without high-level maintenance? We have nothing to complain about. lt doesn't mean we've sold our souls to Section 9. We do have the right to resign if we choose. Provided we give the government back our cyborg shells and the memories they hold. Just as there are many parts needed to make a human a human there's a remarkable number of things needed to make an individual what they are. A face to distinguish yourself from others. A voice you aren't aware of yourself. The hand you see when you awaken. The memories of childhood, the feelings for the future. That's not all. There's the expanse of the data net my cyber-brain can access. All of that goes into making me what l am. Giving rise to a consciousness that l call ''me.'' And simultaneously confining ''me'' within set limits.

ls that why you dive into the sea with a body that only sinks?! What is it you see in the water's darkness?

''For now we see through a glass, darkly.''

That was you, wasn't it?

>this comment is suprisingly unoriginal

Sensors: restarted. Auxiliary computer link: check. Visual sensors: online. - Cyborg body signal? - Output: nominal.

Can't you call in if you're going to be late?

We're all set. Should we hook her up?

Okay, looking good! Kill it!

Be in my office in three minutes.

Since you were late, l'll explain what's going on. Two hours ago, a Megatech Body assembly line in Newport City just started up and produced a cyborg shell. By the time the guys in charge realized what was happening the body had escaped. Then, just as they had thrown up a cordon to catch the thing we got a call from a conscientious truck driver that he'd just run down a naked lady wandering around on the highway. Which brings us to here.

l've heard Megatech Body's tied pretty closely to the government and that all the shells made there are secret.

lf a hacker did this, he had to swim through some of the heaviest protection around.

And that isn't the only problem. Of course, it doesn't have an organic brain in its head but we've detected what looks like a ghost in the auxiliary computer brain. lt isn't unlike the virtual ghost-line you get when a real ghost is dubbed off. But it shows none of the data degradation dubbing would produce. Well, until we map the barrier perimeter and dive in there we won't know anything for sure.

Anyhow, better get back to checking her over.

Good work. Time to rip her apart.

Come on, you guys don't think there's a ghost in that thing.

lt's possible. l've heard celluloid dolls can have a soul. And this thing's stuffed full of neurotech devices. l wouldn't be surprised if it had a soul.

Since you're new here, you probably don't know. The Major's shell was also made by Megatech Body. Not just hers. Me and lshikawa for one along with Saito and others all need maintenance and such. Outside of you and the Chief, everyone in Section 9 needs to make use of their kind services.

Maybe you can see now why we all look a little worried, Togusa.

Assuming the enemy is an outsider, we can't know for sure whether he's in that cyborg body or not. But he cracked through the protection around some of our most secret files and managed to send a program with a ghost-line on it through. And in a way that was easy to spot.

What's he after?!

Let's leave that for now. Togusa, get over to Megatech and help lshikawa check the place out.

Batou, l've closed down the nets with files as sensitive as Megatech's. l want you to double-check the protection we have on them.

l'll get a protection maze put together.

l'll dive tomorrow. You sure? We could force it into another shell and let it swim.

l have to see for myself what's inside that thing. Don't let anyone else dive in there before me!

What's with her?

l wrote in my team evaluations that she's been acting weird ever since this Puppet Master case fell into our laps. Do you even read them?!

Chief, do you ever wonder just how trustworthy the cyberdocs who service your brain are?

Cyber-brain technicians undergo regular psychological testing. And security-cleared ones have their private lives checked, too. But the people who administer those checks are only human.

Once you doubt, you can't stop.

Chief, a Mr. Nakamura from the MFA treaties bureau to see you.

Okay, send him up.

Nakamura, chief of Section 6. Foreign Affairs treaties bureau. l don't know who the white guy with him was.

l'm outta here.

Tell lshikawa to keep cool, okay?

So, what's your problem?

Doesn't that cyborg body look like me?

No, it doesn't.

Not the face or the figure.

What then?

Maybe all full-replacement cyborgs like me start wondering this. That perhaps the real me died a long time ago and l'm a replicant made with a cyborg body and computer brain. Or maybe there never was a real ''me'' to begin with.

You've got real brain matter in that titanium skull of yours. And you get treated like a real person, don't you?

There's no person who's ever seen their own brain. l believe l exist based only on what my environment tells me. Don't you believe in your own ghost? And what if a computer brain could generate a ghost and harbor a soul? On what basis then do l believe in myself?

Bullshit!

l'll see for myself what's in that body. With my own ghost!

We're both busy men, so let's keep this short.

l would prefer that.

l'm here to take the contents of that cyborg body. ln return, we absolve Section 9 of all responsibilities in the case. The Foreign Minister's signature.

Security, whose official vehicles are parked in the basement garage?

They belong to Chief Nakamura of the treaties bureau and a Dr. Willis.

Give me the video record of their entering the building.

Replay, infra-red view.

One Two Three

Send me the pressure sensor records for basement garage spaces B-7 and 8.

Major, this is Togusa. Code 0-9.

What?

Does Nakamura have some sort of special cyborg body?

There are no cyborgs in Section 6. Besides the diplomatic problems, maintaining them is too much trouble when they have to go overseas.

So, even if that tall guy was a cyborg himself together they wouldn't weigh more than half a ton, right? Pressure sensor data.

The garage?

There are two VlP-mobiles here. But neither of them looks like the type who'd drive himself. The security video only shows the two of them but you know how sensitive the entrance door sensors are. They took three full seconds to close after them. lt's illegal to use thermoptic camo in a government building, right?

lt's a serious violation of the National Security Act. Section 6 is up to something.

You all ready?

lf my Matever'll do.

l don't need to remind you that it's treason for you to be hiding something from me, no matter how sensitive.

For both of us.

Whatever the MFA may prefer, this case is in Section 9's jurisdiction. But we wouldn't mind cooperating if there was good reason to.

Dr. Willis?

Confirmed. lt's definitely him.

''Him?''

He's referring to the original ghost block within the shell. lts sex remains undetermined, and the use of the term ''he'' is merely a nickname the good doctor has given it.

Perhaps it's time l introduced you. This is the most unique hacker in the history of cyber-brain crime. The Puppet Master. l believe you in Section 9 ran into him in that case involving the ghost-hack on the Foreign Minister's translatior. We in Section 6 have been pursuing the Puppet Master with the utmost urgency since he first appeared. We formed a project team around Dr. Willis to analyze all data on the Puppet Master's criminal tendencies and behavior patterns. We then constructed special anti-Puppet Master attack protection to lure him into a secret cyborg body.

You made him dive into a body equipped with a cyber-brain and then had his real body killed?

Yes, exactly. He may have shown up in your back yard but he was born in America. And since we were cooperating with the Americans to catch him we want to take him back ourselves. Surely you've no objections. Leaving his unidentified corpse to be found somewhere.

There will be no corpse. Because, until now, there never was a body.

The sensors are active!

Why didn't you say so?!

We've cut all external controls. lt's running on internal power.

l may have entered this cyborg body because l was unable to crack Section 6's attack protection, but it was of my own free will that l came here.

As an autonomous life-form, l request political asylum.

A life-form? Ridiculous! You're merely a self-preserving program!

By that argument, l submit the DNA you carry is nothing more than a self-preserving program itself. Life is like a node which is born within the flow of information.

As a species of life that carries DNA as its memory system man gains his individuality from the memories he carries. While memories may as well be the same as fantasy it is by these memories that mankind exists.

When computers made it possible to externalize memory, you should have considered all the implications that held.

Nonsense! No matter what you say you've no proof that you're a life-form!

lt is impossible to prove such a thing. Especially since modern science cannot define what life is.

Who the devil are you? Even if you have a ghost, criminals don't get set free! You're mistaken if you think you'll get asylum!

Time is on my side. While there is now the possibility l can be killed, this country does not have a death penalty.

Half immortal.

An artificial intelligence?

l am not an A.l. My code name is Project 2501. l am a life-form that was born in the sea of information.

Security! lntruders!

Chief, the Puppet Master!

Where's your security?!

Lock defense walls! Security! Security, come in!

All right, l'm moving!

Asshole!

Did you do it?

Helluva car. My 9mm didn't even scratch it.

Finally found a use for that Matever of yours.

Okay Not bad for a rookie. l got one right in the license plate. Pretty good, huh?

Next time, get two in.

Okay, now it starts. Catch up with them before they switch cars.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be filing a formal complaint about what happened! Contact me as soon as you've recaptured him! Alive, preferably. Megatech can always build another body.

Batou and Togusa are tailing the guys who took the Puppet Master. They're on highway 25.

What do you mean?! lf you were monitoring this, then why--

lf we'd got them here, we'd never prove Section 6's involvement.

Section 6?!

Definitely. They used type-2902 thermoptic camo, like mine. That's only used by us, the rangers in Section 4, and Section 6.

Let's go over this.

Section 6 gets the Puppet Master into a body. But he chooses Megatech Body, which is deeply tied to Section 9. Then, he claims to be a life-form and gets nabbed by Section 6 when he asks for asylum. But why do that? They could've had him as soon as l took a statement. But what if they were afraid of what he might have told you?

He did mention something odd, now that l think about it. ''Code name: Project 2501.''

l'll leave that for you to check. Now, as to the matter of attacking Section 9 and stealing evidence

You're authorized.

Okay, punch it!

Kusanagi! One more thing!

You can punish me for acting without orders when l get back. lf you can't recover him, l want the Puppet Master destroyed. Without fail. Well?!

Roger.

Contact the airport and stop any flights due to take on any Foreign Ministry officials or American diplomats. Close the highways and set up roadblocks. Recall our off-duty personnel for this. And get lshikawa back here! Use the entrance data to find out who the Caucasian with Nakamura was. And search for any sort of MFA project, operation, or anything coded as ''Project 2501.''

Any word from the assault team?

They switched cars one minute ago. They'll join up with the decoy in five minutes.

Tell them to watch for a tail. Yes, sir.

But why did the Puppet Master run over to Section 9?

lt was his decision. Probably for reasons we can't even guess at. Perhaps he has a thing for someone over there.

Ridiculous!

Chief.

lshikawa? Well?

l dove the MFA net and found some interesting things for you.

Hold on, let me get a secure channel. Okay?

First, that guy who was with Nakamura. He's an American. Dr. Willis, head of strategic research at Neutron Corp. Top man in the field of A.l. research. Anyway, he was made head of a Foreign Ministry project. And who do you think the project's main programmer was?

Get to the point.

Mizuho Daita. Age: 28. Remember him? He was the guy Section 6 was trying so hard to keep from defecting. The Major had to take out the diplomat who was going to take him. That programmer.

What bothers me is that this project was started a year before the Puppet Master first appeared.

A year? Wasn't the project started to catch him?

Try this on for size. They started the project to chase the Puppet Master, but not to capture him. l think they wanted to get him back. The day before the minister's interpreter was ghost-hacked he said he wanted a good excuse to deport Maless, right? l think we may have been taken for a ride. Suppose the ''Puppet Master'' is really a program the MFA created to grease the wheels of diplomacy, so to speak. Now suppose, for some reason, they suddenly lost control of it. That would explain why they'd risk assaulting Section 9 to get it back. lf the Puppet Master started talking it'd be an international incident. Not one you could solve by having the minister resign.

Any details on the project? The protection they have only let me get the file's name. Code: 2501

Keep at it. And don't let them know you're in there.

Roger.

Project 2501...The Puppet Master Project.

Target now contacting another vehicle.

Batou! He's stopped at a white sedan on the side of the road. They're transferring something from the back seat. They're moving again.

So's that sedan. - A decoy?

Or one meant to look like one.

What do l do?

l'll take the white sedan.

How do you know he's in there? Another whisper from your ghost?

Maybe.

l knew she'd say that.

Target 02 leaving highway 25, headed for Old Town. Target 01 is staying on highway 25, towards the airport. Will contact roadblock in two minutes.

Evacuation complete. Traffic is clear 2km behind the target.

Anything between you and him?

Nothing. Ready when you are.

Do it.

Get him?

Nothing.

Jesus, what a mess! Did you have to go that far?

Take them in. And tell the chief to get the Major some backup. See you.

Since when does that Amazon need any backup?

The flooding's really bad here, even for Old Town in general. Why come here? They wouldn't have run here without a reason.

Could have a boat or a chopper waiting, or it's an ambush.

Shouldn't we wait for backup?

l can't wait. Come in from seaside and put me above that building.

l'll stay here and run com relay as long as my fuel holds out.

lf things get hot, l want you out of here, fast!

Shoot out the ceiling! Now!

lt's a tank! Go high and get out!

Hold it! You're gonna take on a tank by yourself?!

Even if we get the Puppet Master back to Section 9 all the chief will do is use him as a bargaining chip. This is my only chance to dive into him!

Hold it, what are you two talking about?

What are you packing?

An M-23 and a Unit B.

You're going up against it with those?!

Sorry, but l have to break contact for a while.

Wait! At least wait till l-- Son of a!

Major.

Didn't l tell you to get out of here?

Sorry. l'll do it after l tell you this. There are 3 choppers with no lFF signal approaching at high speed. l'm heading out. Over.